These last few days of August can turn the landscape brown with the intense heat, cloud free sky and strong south west desert winds. As the wildflowers go to seed and the grass sends its roots deeper searching for moisture, the risk of grass fires increase so much that much of my time is spent mowing the tall dead vegetation down and building a barrier away from the ranch house and out-buildings.
Our rainwater supply remains high and the well continues to give me water for irrigation. We drink, bath and wash with the rainwater that contains no minerals and has no taste. The well and rainwater also serve as our emergency fire water.
In mid-September the first front will push through and hopefully deliver some rain and cooler weather.
Rancho Cardinalis is located in the Texas Hill Country outside the village of Center Point that rests on the Guadalupe River. We acquired the ranch in 2005, built temporary living quarters in 2006 and our home in 2009. Our ranch is managed under a State wildlife plan. The focus is on Near-Artic and Neo-Tropical migratory & breeding Hill County birds. We also manage for small mammals and butterflies. The ranch is named after our most abundant bird – Northern Cardinal - cardinalis
Texas Forest Stewardship award
In 2007 we received a Texas Forest Stewardship award. L-R; Susan Sander, Sherry Collins, Clay Bales, Tom Collins
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